Heddle frame



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lnvenor.'

Erwin Pforrwoller M2721 uga.;

ATTORNEY 5.,.

United States Patent O 3,406,726 HEDDLE FRAME Erwin Pfarrwalier, Winterthur, Switzerland, assigner to Snizer Brothers Limited, Winterthur, Switzerland, a Swiss company Filed Aug. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 575,857

Claims priority, application Switzerland, Sept. 1, 1965,

3 Claims. (Ci. 139-9@ ABSTRACT @F THE DESCLOSURE There is disclosed a heddle trame in which the upper longitudinal member of the frame is separated vertically from the means which support the heddles at their upper ends by a space unobstructed in the vertical direction which is at least 50 mm. greater than one-half the length of the heddles. The travel of the frames being necessarily limited to one-half the length of the heddles, the consequence of this construction is that even during operation of the loom the upper longitudinal member of one heddle frame does not on its downstrolse approach closer than 50 mm. to the upper heddle supporting means of the adjacent heddle frames (which are on their upstroke), thus leaving a clearance for the operators hands if the loom should restart inadvertently while he is for example repairing broken warp threads.

This invention relates to a heddle frame of the type Comprising upper and lower longitudinal members interconnected by end members and upper and lower heddle carrier rods between and parallel with the longitudinal members.

With such heddle frames it has already been proposed, eg. in U.S. Patent No. 1,866,908, to stiften the upper longitudinal member by increashivI the depth of its section in order to reduce the number of or to completely eliminate intermediate vertical mem-bers connecting the upper and lower longitudinal members and in order to stiften the heddle frames. Intermediate vertical members should be avoided as far as possible so that the warp threads can be drawn into the heddle by the warping machines.

ln such heddle frames, the upper heddle carrier rod is at a relatively small distance beneath the upper longitudinal member of `the frame. The distance is less, and generally much less, than the travel of the frame. When the loom has been stopped as a result of a warp thread breakage, the .operator cannot reach through, or else can only with ditliculty Ireach past, the relatively high reinforcing prole of the upper longitudinal member from the iront of the machine in order to tie the torn varp thread from behind the frame or reintroduce it into the heddle eye and tie it in front of the frame. For example, in the case of warp lbeams having a large lap diameter, a torn warp thread cannot be drawn into the heddle eye from the back (warp beam side) of the loom.

The present invention provides a heddle frame comprising upper and lower longitudinal members interconnected by end members, and upper and lower heddle carrier rods ybetween and parallel with the longitudinal members, there being a free space between the upper longitudinal member and the upper heddle carrier rod, the space 4being at least equal, in the direction of movement of the frame, to hdi the distance between the upper and lower heddle carrier rod plus 50 mm. This space is free in that it is devoid of members extending parallel to the longitudinal members and heddle carrying rods. Vertical members, i.e. members crosswise of the longitudinal members and carrier rods, may extend across this lCe space at points between the ends of the frame in order to secure the upper rod, or an intermediate longitudinal bar to which that rod is fastened, to the upper longitudinal member.

As a result of the greater distance between the upper longitudinal member and the parts of the frame situated therebelow, the operator can pass his hands between the frames, i.e. through said space, in the event of a Warp thread `breakage and clear the fault.

This eliminates the risk of the operators hands being exposed to danger due to premature re-starting of the loom, because the space is so large that even it one of the trames is in the upper shed position and the adjacent frame is in the lower shed position there is still an adequate free space for 'the operators hands Ibetween the upper longitudinal member of the frame in the lower shed position and those parts of the adjacent upper shed frame which are situated beneath the upper longitudinal member of that adjacent fram-e.

it is possible, using heddle frames constructed in accordance with the invention, to tie broken warp threads equally as easily or even more easily than with conventional frames having relatively low un-reinforced upper longitudinal members, and with vertical intermediate members to stiften the frames.

The vertical travel It of the frames cannot of course, exceed half the distance between the heddle carrier rods, since otherwise the warp threads brought into the extreme upper or lower shed position by one frame would be knocked away Vby a heddle carrier rod of an adjacent frame moved into the other extreme position. If the space left free beneath the upper longitudinal member is made at least 50 mm. larger than half the distance between the heddle carrier rods-the amount of 5() mm. is equivalent to the thickness of a human hand-then even when all the frames are in extreme positions there is always a free safety space of at least 50 mm. available during operation for the operator to reach through.

In form of construction according to the invention, the space is bounded at the bottom by the upper heddle carrier rod, which is secured to the upper longitudinal member -by retaining elements of suitable length. The top structure of the heddle frame can thus be kept relatively low. In the event of Warp thread breakages the operator can reach straight over the heddle carrier rod, i.e. very near the shed or the weaving plane.

In another form of construction according to the invention however, the free space is bounded at the bottom by an intermediate longitudinal member or bar to which the upper heddle carrier rod is secured. The free space is then admittedly disposed somewhat higher above the oor of the weaving room but is still low enough for the operat-or to reach through and repair warp threads. iOn the other hand, the top part of the frame is very stili:` as a result of this construction so that fewer retaining elements are required to cross the free space, which is between the intermediate longitudinal member and the upper longitudinal member. Accordingly there is more free space available for the operator to reach through.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways but two heddle frames embodying the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

HG. 1 is a general view in side elevation of a heddle frame according to the invention showing its drive mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of one form of heddle frame according to the invention, to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2 and showing in similar section an adjacent heddle frame of the same construction as that of FIG. 2, the two frames of FIG. 3 appearing in relation to each other n as they might be built into a loom, the two frames of FIG, 3 being respectively in extreme upper and lower shed position;

FIG. 4 is a View similar to that of FIG. 2 showing another frame according to the invention; and

v FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V in FIG. 4 and showing another frame like that of FIG. 4, the two frames of FIG. 5 having the same relation to each other as have those of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. l, the heddle frame, generally indicated at 10, comprises a lower longitudinal member or bar 11 and an upper longitudinal member or bar 12 which are interconnected by vertical end struts 13. The frame is driven from the bottom, for example by two or three links connected to lifters 15, and moves up and down in the direction of arrow 31. The lifters 15 are guided in the loom frame and are connected by links 14 with bell cranks 16 which can swing about fixed pivots 17 A horizontally reciprocating push rod 18 is pivotally connected to the bell cranks 16 and carries -a roller 22 engaging in a groove 21 of a cam disc 19. The disc is secured to a shaft 23 which is geared to the loom main shaft. Each heddle frame has a drive mechanism similar to that shown in FIG. 1.

The top ends of the lifters 15-of which three are provided in each of the heddle frames shown in FIGS. 2 to S-are in the form of hooks 32 engaging over pegs 33 provided on the heddle frame.

Lower heddle carrying means, namely a lower heddle carrier rod 25, are secured to the lower bar 11 by spacers 24 which hold the rod and bar separated by a small distance. Upper heddle carrying means, namely an upper heddle carrier rod 25a, are secured to the upper bar 12 by connecting members 24a which are of such a length as to hold the rod 25a at a much greater distance a from the upper lbar 12. It is this distance a which according to the invention is made to be at least 50 mm. more than half the separation e of the heddle carrier rods 25 and 25a t be described presently. A reinforcing member 34, which may be of trapezoidal shape, is provided above the upper bar and may be welded thereto. On each side of the member 34 wooden panels 35 are secured, e.g. by glueing, to maintain the spacing of adjacent frames.

Referring to FIG. 2, the heddle carrier rods 25, 25a are spaced from each other by an amount e of 330 mm. for example Heddles 37 containing eyes 36 are strung on the rods. Only three of the heddles are shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 lshows two heddle frames 10, 10a, the former being in the upper and the latter in the lower shed position. The travel h of each frame, of course, cannot exceed half the value of e and can be assumed, for example, as being 160 mm. The sum e/2-i-50 is 215 mm. The distance a is, for example, 230 mm. It is therefore l mm. greater than the sum e/2-l-50 and exceeds the travel h 4by an amount c=70 mm. During operation, therefore, the upper bar 12 of the frame 10a will never come alongside the heddle carrier rod 25a of the frame 10 but, on the contrary, the rod 25a of frame 10 will remain below the bar 12 of the frame 10a by the amount c.

In the event of breakage of a warp thread, the operator can easily reach through the frame in the region of the spacing a without any danger to his or her hands. Specically, even if the loom should be restarted, the spacing c, which must according to the invention be at least 50 mm., will be available for his hands.

In the frame shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an intermediate longitudinal bar 38 is provided between the upper and lower bars 12 and 11. The heddle carrier rod 25a is secured to the intermediate bar 38 in the same way and with the same spacing as the rod 25 on the bar 11, The distance between the upper bar 12 and the intermediate bar 38 is denoted by a. That part of the frame which is situated above the bar 12 is of identical construction to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Since the intermediate bar 38 has sufli- -cient stiffness, a smaller number of connecting members 5 24a is required as compared with the frame shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. For example, FIGS. 2 and 3 show eight, while FIGS. 4 and 5 require only three connecting members 24a. The free space having the height a available for the operator to reach through is therefore larger than in FIGS. 2 and 3. That is to say, this free space is less encroached on by crosswise pieces (the pieces 24a) securing the upper rod a (via intermediate bar 38) to the upper longitudinal bar 12.

In the frame shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the travel h is again, for example, 160 mm., e=330 mm., the sum e/2-|-50=215 mm. and the spacing a is assumed to be 230 mm. he safety distance c=ah=70 rnrn. is thus maintained even in the extreme positions of the frames shown in FIG. 5.

In both the frames described, there are vertical struts 13 only at the ends and no intermediate vertical struts. The stiffness of the frame is obtained by the topI structure 34 and 35. This is not in the way when the operator wishes to reach behind the frame to repair warp thread 25 breakages as the operator can reach through the frame.

While the invention has been described herein in terms of a number of preferred embodiments, the invention itself is not limited thereto; rather, the invention compreheuds all modifications and variations thereof falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A heddle frame comprising an upper longitudinal member and a lower longitudinal member substantially parallel thereto, end members interconnecting said longitudinal members, separate upper and lower heddle support means extending between said end members in the space between said longitudinal members and substantially parallel thereto, and heddles engaged between said upper and lower heddle support means, said upper longitudinal member being separated from said upper lheddle support means by a vertically unobstructed spacing of at least 50 mm. more than half the length of said heddles.

2. A heddle frame according to claim 1 wherein said upper and lower heddle support means comprise respectively upper and lower heddle carrier rods and wherein said spacing is bounded at the lower limit thereof -by said upper heddle carrier rod, said heddle frame further comprising interconnecting members secured to said upper member and to said upper heddle carrier rod intermediate the ends thereof.

3. A heddle frame according to claim 1 wherein said upper and lower heddle support means comprise respectively upper and lower heddle carrier rods and said up'per heddle support means further comprise an intermediate longitudinal bar extending substantially parallel to and between said upper member and upper heddle carrier rod and means securing said upper heddle carrier rod to said intermediate bar, and wherein said spacing is bounded at the lower limit thereof by said intermediate bar.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 190,708 5/1877 Crompton 139-92 729,477 5/ 1903 Wirtalla 139-92 1,852,076 4/1932 Fernane et al. 139-92 2,069,330 2/1937 Rossmann 139-57 X 2,700,399 l/ 1955 lPfarrwaller 139-92 MERVIN STEIN, Primm'y Examiner.

JAMES KEECHI, Assistant Examiner. 

